Exhaust-steam injector



J. F. GRIFFIN EXHAUST STEAM INJECTOR 'April 10, 1928.

led May l5. 1926 NNI".

JOSEPH. F fR/PHN. A

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.v

UNITED s1-rares 1,665,581 PATENT -.orti-Cr,.f`

JOSEPH r. GRIFFN, or TEANEGK, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoR To THE SUPERHEATERCOMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y. f f Y EXHAUST-STEAM INJECIOR.

Application ledvMay 15,

' whereby live` steam-fof'. .reduced fpressure,

f hereinafter referred to] as auXiIiar'y. steam, i

may be used in 'conjunction with the supplemental steam foroperatingtheinjector When'exha'usti steam: is not available.

lInjectorsofthis typeasappliedto loco* motives-are ordinarily Iequippedwith v.con-

trol systems by which the` high Yand low pressure-live stea1n,theexhaust steam, andk theavater supplied tot-he injector, are controlled'fi-oiirtlie locomotive cabby means of valves1 actuatedlfroin a commoncontrolwhereby the exhaust valve will 'be free of.

yling means. v

Typical examples of such injectors and A controlwsystems are 'disclosedin U. S.`Let ters Patents No. f1-,351',O0/1, granted March 211, 1925,vto M. Ll-Iar'chet -al.,and 1,510,999,

" grantedvOctober 7, 1924, to RQ D. Metcalfe,

et alf, andy the ypresent invention has forits general object-theprovision of an'improved form of exhaust steam control valve, :for yusein conjunction with systems Vof fthisgeneral nature. To this end,anobject ofthe invention is the4 provision of positive lock- -ing vmeansforv holding` the exhaust yvalve in closed-position, which-means may bethrown out of engagement with the valve sof-that -theV latter may befree to'move to either closed or open `position under theinliuence of'steampressurevalone. A furtherlobject of the invention Vis theprovision of means.

kthe locking means at all times when the-inkjector is being operatedwith exhaust and supplemental steam. A further object ofl VIVtheinvention is the-provision of a combined closing and locking means whichwill per mit the Vclosing of the exhaustlvalve and maintenance thereof1n `lclosed position 'against exhaust steam pressureyby ythe use of aspring or equivalent Vmeans of rela-L tively light strength. A stillfurther object of the invention is theprovision of means vwherebythe'exhaust valve willfbe automate ically closedandvlocked in closedposition.:

when the injector is shifted .from .exhaust steam tov-auxiliary steamoperation. .Otherm 1926. seriai N6. wasn/i.

and moredetailed'objects of theinvention vwill becorne apparent as Vthefollowing-,de-

scriptiongofa preferred form of my invention proceeds.- g 1 y sIn theaccompanying `drawingsE lghave shownmy invention applied to aninjectOFof 4aqslightly modilied form of valve control means. f

Referring now toFig. '1, the injector .showni is of a known,v type,inzvwhichwithin the housing 1 there yare successively .mounted themam-low pressure steam nozzle 2, vrwater nozzle or cone 3, secondarysteam' nozzle/"4;,

ycombining, tube` and deliverytube, IgAs these elementsfof the injectorare well l known inthe art andforrn nopart ofthepres'ent invention,itisfnot believednecessarythat I they. be described Ain further detail.yn

i The housing 1 is provided with an exhaust s teamqinlet 74communicating with the steam chamber 8, theinlet Tv--being controlledby the exhaust valve 9E pivotally supported from vthe Ipin l.10 byineansof the arm 11, to which it visyattached by means ofthe rivet Y12,the,

latter being provided withl arounded projectinghead 13. Thevalve 9,armll, and

rivet 12 form aA fixed assemblyv (which may be -madevintegraD- rotatable.aboutpinilO asafcentenand the exhaust valveL will hereinafter `belconsidered as comprisingfthis assembly. 1 I i y Forward of the exhaustvalve, the housing 1f, is formedwith a boss 14: formingabearino for.ythefreception `of a transversely placed pin 15, Awhich at-its oppositeendis [supported by a removable bearingflsuitably, secured Ainythewhousing,1 opposite the boss 14.

Theypiu 15 carries, Lpreferably integrally therewith, a, camfelement 17,the main cam surface of which consistsofV an rarcuate. por-V 'ftionllying onan arcstruck` from a point shghtlyqabovefthe axis. ofpinlgonthe. vline intersecting the axes @.pins lOand 15.

Thecani surface'=.18 lmergesfgradually atv its lowerend into thesubstantially radial cam surface. 19; l,The position of; pin 15 andIthel radius` of fthe, arcuate portion of thefcam l18 are such* thatwithk thecam inthe position vshownin Fig. 1, the valve 9 is held inclosed "highpressure steam nozzle 25.

position by the cam surface 18 contacting with the head 13. Furthermoreit is particularly to be noted that the axes of pins and are so placedthat with the cam in the position shown, a line drawn through the axesof pin 10 and the point of contact between elements 13 and 18 is atright angles to a line drawn through the axes of pin 1-5 and the pointof contact `between elements 13 and 18. The reason for this relativeplacing of the elementswill appear morefully hereinafter. 1

The cam 17 is provided opposite the cam surface 18 with a projectingoperating lever 20, by means of which the cam 1s rotated to either holdtheexhaust valve in closed posi tion or to allow it free movement.

The housing lis formed with an extension r the steam passage 24 andprovides high pressure steam for nozzle 25 and the actuation of piston`22.`

Directly Vbelow vcylinder V21 the housing 1 is `suitably webbed to formthe cylinder 27, in which is slidably mounted the piston 28 carrying thepiston rod29, the latter projecting through the web forming the top ofcylinder 27 to engage the lower face of the lever 2O directlyoppositethe rod 23. A spring 30, located in cylinder 27, tends to forcethe Vpiston 28 to the upper end of thecylinder and the force exerted bythis spring may be varied by means of a suitably threaded adjusting plug31. The lower end of cylinder 27 is closed by a suitable plug 32. j

Forward of cylinder 27 the injector housing 1 is suitably webbed to forma steam passage 33, communicating with the cylinder 27 below piston 28and also through ports 34 with the steam chamber' 8. A steam pipe 35leading from the control apparatus (not shown) communicates with passage33 and supplies thereto low pressure auxiliary steam for the operationof the injector and' f also for the actuation of piston 28.

The operation of the device is as follows: Vhen the injector controlsare closed so that neither high nor low pressure live steam is admittedto the injector, the cam 17 is held in the positionshown in Fig. 1 bymeans of the spring 27 acting through piston 28 and rod 29.f `ln thisposition the exhaust valve is closed and prevents the entrance of ex-.pivot 10, passes through the axis of pin 15 and it `will thus be seenthat the cam 17 when .in this positionforms a lock holding the exhaustvalve closed. The cam -surface 18 is,'as previously noted, slight-lyoii' center j with respectto the axis of pin 15.- A tangentto the arc atthe point of `contact With..

head 13 is, therefore, not Vquite normal to the line of force exerted bythe latter. Because ofthis, pressure exerted by head 13 will tend torotate the cam in counter clockwise direction, but this tendency is soslight thatit is entirely overcome byfriction, and the cam acts as afriction held lock preventing the opening of valve). `The cam surfaceAl8is offset in order to compensate for wear on the cam surface or.. theface of valve 9, and to assure thev positive seating of the latter asthe cam is rotated' to closedposition.

Assuming that exhaust steamis available and it is desired to operate theinjector, high pressure live steam isadmitted to the latter through pipe26 and, as will be readily apparent from an inspection of the ligure,the

Y admission of live steam to the passage 24 will force the piston 22downwardly against the spring 27 and move cam 17-.into a position whichallows the exhaust valve 9 to be opened by the pressure of the exhauststeam in inlet 7. j j Y When it is desired to operate the injector onlive steam, the auxiliary low pressure live steam is admitted throughpipe 35 to the passage v33, from which it p asses into the steam chamber8 and also into cylinder 27 below piston 28. In most instances theauxiliary live steam passing into chamber 8 will be sufficient to closethe exhaust valve 9 and prevent the escape of live steam through theexhaust passage, but in order to assureithe positive closing of theexhaust valve the area of thepiston 28 and the tension of spring 30 arefixed so that upon the admission of .Sii

iti() llU low pressure steam into cylinder 27, the pressure of thesupplemental live steam acting on piston 22 will be overbalanced and thepiston 28 forced to the top of lcylinder 27. by the combined forcesacting on it. This action will rotate camV 17 to the position shown inthe figure, placing the exhaust valve in its closed andlocked position.

Because of the fact that the exhaust valve when closed and under exhauststeam pressure `is preventedA by friction from rotating cam 17, thespring 30-holding the cam in closed position may be made comparativelylight and consequently the piston 22, which must y'overcome thel of`spring iOto open .the valve, may also be of comparatively small size. yi i ,g

It will be obvious that the same action. as

.that described could be obtained bygadmit- Vting the low` pressure livesteam below piston .22.rathen than below piston 28, but the form shownis preferable, 4,as with this arrange# mentneither the piston `22 nor.piston 28 need be a closeor packed fit in its respective cylinder. Itwillbe 4notedtlratpistons 22 andx-28 are provided withannular .faces 22aand282,01';'theirk lower and uppeiyfacesrespectively,rand .these annularfaces, or seats,

eliminated.. t

j f YVhen the'injector isshut off after having '.,been operated withexhaust steam and with exhaust steam Istill available at the inlet 7,

. the cam 1T vis returned to its `closed position from the openpositionby the spring 30, which, although` comparatively light, is able torotate the cam and close the exhaust valve against the exhaust steampressure because' of the intermittent character of the latter. Itywillbe readily .apparent .that during the lintervals of reducedexhaust*r steam pressure occurring between exhaust pressure impulsesfrom ,the engine cylinders, thespring 30 will gradually rotate thecam,.17'fin va series ofk steps until the head Vl is in engagement withthe arcuate portion .18 of the cam surface,

after which thefcam may be rotated with `comparative easeuntil valve 9is forced to itsrfullylclosed position..

.In Fig. 3 I have 'llustrated a modiiied formofyalve which is, ingeneral, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, butin which the exhaust valveispositively closed only when thehigh pressure'live steam supply to theinjector is shut off. In this form the valve QWispivoted at 10 throughlever 11.4 carrying head 13. A cam 17having faces 18 i and 1 9 similarto those previously described Vin connectionwith Fig. 1, issimilarlym'ounted in the injector housing and is thrown to open.position by means of a piston `22 and rod 23 actuated by supplementalhigh pressure steam. The spring acting onY piston 28., lmounted incylinder 27', lacts to throw the cam to closed position in exactly the`same manner as that heretofore described, but in this .casethenauxiliary steam "passage 33', supplied from pipe 35, is incommunication only with the steam chamber 8.

Inrthis form the general operation of the valve is the same as thatpreviously described with the exceptionl that during live steam steamvinlet @pagaron i the injuif, the 'can irais hia in open position ,f bythe action of theliigh pressure steam on piston V22', and the exhaust t7 isclosed only by the action of the low pressure live steam'in chambersV8 acting to close valve 9.

If the operating conditions are suclithat 'a ,positive pressure isassured in thechamber 8 at all times when the injector. is operatingwholly on live steam, satisfactory.operation of. the injector may .besecured with 'the more simple modified form. f Y

. ll/Vhen the injector is shut off, the exhaust valve 9 is closed y'andlocked yin. closed vponeras inthe preferredform'. i

It is to be understood. that .the'invention is vsiti'on by sp "ing 30',in exactly the sameV mannot to be limited to the illustrative embodtments herein disclosed, but is; to j. bek con- A sidered as includingsuch changes inform as may fall'within the spirity and scope oftheappended claims.

I claim:

1. In an injector, the combination .with an exhaust valve openedbyexhaustfsteam pressure, of a movable element -engaging'said valve tolock it in 'closed position, resilient means urging said element tolockingposition, and means for moving. said element/out of lockingpositien against the action of 'said j first named means. j

2. In an injector, the combinationl with a pivoted exhaust valve openedbyfexliaust steam pressure, of a rotatable cam in' one position engagingsaid valve to lockthe latter 1: i

in closed position and in another' position permitting said valve toopen, a spring acting to force said` cam to said first named position,and a fluidl actuated piston acting to force y said cam to said lastnamed position against the action of said springl y 3. In an injectorsupplied with exhaust and supplemental lsteam and having an exhaustvalve opened by exhaust steam pressure," a

movable element engaging said valve to lockv it in closed positionand'means actuated by the admission of supplemental steanito theinjector to move said element out'of locking position.

4:. In an injecter supplied with exhaust and i' supplemental steam, thecombination with a pivoted exhaust valve opened by exhaust steampressure, of a rotatablec'am in one position engaging said valve to'lock the latter' iny closed position and in another position permittingsaid valve tov open, a spring acting Bul juf),

lll)

to force said cam to said 'firstfnamed position,

and a piston actuated by the.admission` of supplemental steam to theinjectorl acting to force saidcam to said last named position againstthe action of said spring.

5. In an injector supplied with exhaust,

supplemental and auxiliary steam andhaving an exhaust valve opened byexhaust steam pressure, a movable element engaging Sald valve to lock itin closed position, means actuated by the admission of supplemental`binationwith a pivoted exhaust valve opened by exhaust steam pressure,of a rotatable cam in one osition ensaoin said valve to lock` the latterin closed position and in another position permitting said valve toopen, a spring acting to force said cam to saidiirst named position, apistonactuatedby the admission of supplemental steam to the injectoractingto force said cam to said last named position against the actionof said spring,.

and a piston actuated by the admission of auxiliary steam to theinjector acting' in conjunction with said spring to ret-urn said cani t0said rst named position against the action of' said firstV named piston.

7. In an injector having an exhaust valve opened by exhaust steampressure, valve actuating means for closing said vaive, movable elementinterposed between said meansand valve, and a mounting for said element,said element being constructed and arranged to transmit the torceexerted by said means to said valve to close the latter, and when inclosed position to transmit the force exerted thereon by said valve tosaid mounting.

8. In an injector having an exhaust valve opened by exhaust steampressure, an element movable from an open to aelosed position in thelatter of which it engages said valve to hold said valve closed againstexhaust steam pressure, said element forming, when in closed position, alocking member capable of independently retaining said valve in closedposition against exhaust steam pressure, a spring` urging said elementto closed position and a Huid pressure actuated piston for moving saidelement to open position. i

9. In an injector having an exhaust steam valve opened by exhaust steampressure, a cam element located adjacent said valve and rotatable toclose the same, said element comprising a cani surface which, in closedposition, is substantially normal to the line oi? the resultant torceexerted by exhaust steam pressure on said valve, whereby the cameelement forms a friction held locking member for said valve, and meansfor moving said element into and out of engagement with said valve.

10. InY an injector having an exhaust valve opened by exhaust steampressure, a rotatablecam element located adjacent said valve, saidelement comprising a pivot mounted with its axis lying on the line oithe resultant force exerted by exhaust steam pressure on said valve andacam surface lying on an arcthe center ot which lies on a `lineintersecting the axes of said valve and cani pivotsbetween the two'andadjacent the latter, and means for rotating said elenient to bring saidcam surface intoor :out of engagement with said valve Vto closelthelatter orpermit its Vfree opening underthe iniiuence of exhaust steampressure.

11.'In an injector, a housing having a high pressure live steamjinletand an exhaust steam inlet, a pivotedt flap valve controlling saidexhaust steam inlet, a rotatable cam element mounted transversely' ofsaid housing and movable between two positions in one of which itengages said valve onthe iside opposite `said inlet to close thevalveand in the other of which it permits-free movement of the valve, anoperating `lever on said camelenient, a cylinder located n said housing,a piston located in said cylinder, and carrying al rod engaging one sideof said iever, a spring located in said cylinder and acting on saidpiston to Close said valve, a second cylinder located in said housingand in communication lwith saidhigh pressure steam inlet, aV pistonlocated in said last named cylinder and carrying a rod engaging the sideof said lever opposite said iirstvnained rod. t

l2. In an injector, a housing havinghigli and low pressure live fsteaminlets andan ex-V haust steam inlet, a pivotedf flap valvecontrollingsaid exhaust steam inlet, a rotatable came element mounted transverselyofsaid housing and movable between two positions in one oit which itengages said valve 0n the side opposite said inlet to close'the valveand in the other of which` it pei'niitsfree movenient of the valve, anoperating lever on said cam element, a cylinder locatedin said housing,a piston located in saidcylinder, and carryinga rod engaging one side ofsaid lever, a spring located in said cylinder and acting on said pistonto close said valve, a port providing communication between the portionof the cylinder -in whichV the spring is located and said low pressurelive steam inlet, a second cylinder located in said housing and incommunication with said high pressure steam inlet, a piston located insaid last named cylinder and carrying a-rod engaging the side ofsaidlever, opposite said iirst named rod.` i

JosiiPH it GRIFFIN.

